Irwin Elman to review 'political mess' in case of Sudbury mom giving up her child
Family feels forced to give up son to the Crown to get the treatment they're told he needs
Ontario's children's advocate, Irwin Elman, is reviewing the case of a Sudbury mom who's giving up her child as a Crown ward.
Nicole Desmarais wants to maintain custody of her nine-year-old son, but she said she has to give him up because it's the only way the province will pay for his care.
The boy suffers from mental health issues that can make him aggressive and violent — and the hospital where her son is currently staying is not meeting his needs, Desmarais said.
But the facility recommended for her son by doctors costs $1,000 a day.
Desmarais said she doesn't want to give up her son to the Crown, but she's doing so because it's the only way the province will pay for the medical treatment she says he needs.
“I had exhausted every single possibility that I could think of, including the ombudsman’s office and the local politicians and the MPs,” she said.
“And I'd even sent a letter to the premier hoping to get somewhere, but it hasn't happened so far.”
Desmarais is now involved in a lawsuit against the Ministry of Children and Youth Services.
The province says it can't comment on this case because it's before the courts.
In the meantime Desmarais continues to be hopeful that her family will get the help it needs. Explaining the situation to her son has been an elusive undertaking.
“It was devastating last night to hear my son sobbing on the phone over and over again,” she said.
“You know, trying to understand why I can't rush out to go pick him up. And it's difficult to explain to a child this political mess.”